We left Anchor Point and headed to a campground about 6 miles from Seward. Again we lucked out as it was nestled in the mountains with a creek running behind us.  We spent the day checking out Seward (it’s not very big) and trying to see if we could find someone to take the 3 of us out on Resurrection Bay for the day. No luck. So I made a reservation on one of the cruise ships for their 4 ½ hour tour to Fox Island and around the Bay. Michael, who had spent some time in Seward when he went kelping back in the seventies, decided he’d stay behind, babysit Lily and look for the leak we discovered coming from the water heater (we think).

We were told that the Alaska Sea Life Center was really worth going through. So we went there prior to my boat ride. Besides providing information on sea life in Alaska, it also housed an aquarium and  rookery. I knew that I would be hard pressed to photograph puffins on the ride so I took advantage of their proximity at the Sea Life Center. (And I’m glad I did.) They had both horned and tufted Puffins, black oyster catchers, the common murre, sea lions and seals.

Horned Puffin at Alaska Sea Life Center

Tufted Puffin at Alaska Sea Life Center

I lucked out with a beautiful day. The ride through Resurrection Bay, around islands and along glaciers was well worth the trip. I saw sea lions, puffins, mountain goats, hump backed whales and orcas. Unfortunately, trying to photograph these became a task unto itself.  I know there has to be an art to photographing wildlife on a moving boat. I was not able to master this. Every time I focused in on a puffin or a whale or a goat, the boat would heave. I spent more time trying to maintain my balance than shooting. I finally gave up—especially on the orcas. They frolicked in pairs around the boat and were just plain fun to watch. We saw a number of hump back whales that also performed for us. I did get a couple of tail shots. The puffins proved totally impossible to shoot as they skittered across the water and into the air. Nothing would stay still long enough. So I just watched and enjoyed.

Cruise Ship on Resurrection Bay

Sea Lions as seen from the boat

Hump Back Whale Tail

Sea Otter meeting the boats as they come into harbor

As we thought, the leak was in the water heater.   Michael set us up with an appointment with an RV repair shop in Anchorage for this morning.   Getting up at 3am, we drove the 2 ½ hours to Anchorage. After waiting another 6 hours to have the new water heater  installed,  we headed up the Glenn Highway. What spectacular views as we wended our way over curvy 2 lanes with no shoulders or guard rails through the Matanuska Valley, along the Matanuska River and by the Matanuska Glacier. Each time you think you’ve come upon the most beautiful scenery ever, you  see another mountain or glacier or river even more awesome. Alaska never disappoints.

Matanuska River

Matanhuska Glacier

Tomorrow we head to Tok, AK , the first place we stayed when we entered Alaska on June 9. We’ll be there for 2 nights and then head back down the Alaska Highway to the lower 48. We will have been in Alaska a month – not long enough but it’s time to move on.